Martial arts?

To get a balanced Self Defense you actually need 3 components:

1) You need to understand joint locks, leverage, and take downs (getting someone on the ground so they can't punch/kick you)

2) You need to understand how to protect your face/head from punches and kicks.

3) You need to understand how to get correct positioning when you go end up fighting someone on the ground. You will end up fighting someone on the ground if you get into a conflict. Unless you can sucker punch/shoot someone before they attack you.

Judo can take care of #1. I wouldn't recommend Akido.
A GOOD jujitsu school will teach you #1 and #3 (most Jujitsu schools focus on one or the other)
# 2 can be learned by a good boxing/kick boxing, Ta Kwon Do, or Muay Thai.
If you find a MMA (mixed martial arts school) that trains for UFC type fights you'll get all three.

No matter what school/style you choose make sure they have some sort of sparring system- where you actually get to perform moves on opponents that are trying to fight you. This is where MMA schools/Judo schools do great and Akido schools do horrible and don't prepare their students.
 
You are specificly considering studying aikido. I have wrestled in high school for 4-years, boxed since I was 10, studied kick-boxing, judo and aikido for for several decades. I found the most fascinating "art" to be aikido. Don't be fooled. The Founder of aikido was a master of many martial arts and weapons and was a product of a very violent time. Aikido techniques can maim or kill.

I am not going to debate which martial art is the best because that excersise is bs. My belief is they're all good... and the more you know, the better off you are.

I've been in my fair share of street fights and confrontations, and depending on the situation I drew on all my training and techniques including drawing my pistol.

Whatever you decide to take or study train hard, randori and spar. In the end it will be your training and attitude that will see you through a situation.

I thought you may find these useful. It's a general search of some "arts" using You Tube:

Aikido:

O Sensei Ueshiba http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Ueshiba&search=Search

Gozo Shioda http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=gozo+shioda&search=Search

Hapkido:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=hapkido&search=Search

Judo:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=judo&search=Search

Kenpo:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=kempo&search=Search

Ju jutsu:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ju+jutsu&search=Search

Krav Maga:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Krav+Maga&search=Search

Mixed Martial Arts:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mixed+martial+arts&search=Search
 
Starbuck,
Myth or not, the idea is that rank should be ability based, and not a measure of attendance. Perfect attendance certificates will not help you ward off an attacker.
 
I practice the Haganah system. It also incorporates edged weapons and firearms into the ciriculum.The class sessions can get real intresting at times.I really enjoy it.
 
Another place to begin is this document. It's pretty basic, but comes from some time ago when the Usenet martial arts group was a bit more civil. (There's an updated version here.)

"Which art is more effective?" is pretty much in the same category as "9mm or .45?" IMHO.
 
train martial arts. if you learn how to defnd yourself so much the better but, the ballance, awareness of surounding and others you get will be more useful. For example many times i have triped and since i had trained in how to fall properly i didn't get hurt.
For the situational awareness one time me and my girl friend were at a restuant, all of a sudden i grab the pitcher of beer we had and just hold it right as she was opening her mouth to ask why 2 drunk guys bump our table really hard and only a little beer was spilt on the table rather than all over her clothes. what happened was i had noticed 2 people drinking heavily who were sitting behind me. i heard them get up and the sounded unsteady so i thought they might bump into us, and it was all unconsious, i just did it and realised why afterwards. it save my girl from need ing new clothes and me from possibly getting in a fight for or about it.
 
I started in Shotokan when I was in Junior High. Later I went to Tang Soo Do where I earned my black belt. I boxed for 2 years and then went inactive for awhile. I got involved in Soo Bahk Do/Moo Duk Kwan in 1994 and eaned my Dan ranking with them.

I also took time to learn and incorporate as much as I could in staff, stick and edged weapon technique. Learning to use firearms, for me, was just another extension of my practice.

My bad back and bad joints have slowed me down way more than I like to admit, but I still enjoy my training and the closeness (sp) of friends that I have made along the way.

I am another one who believes there is no "best" martial art. I have over 25 years in traditional martial arts and when I needed them, they worked. 'Nuff said.

My advice would be to pick a style that agrees with your body's structure and dynamics and train, train, train. Always be open minded to other arts and techniques and be willing to incorporate their positive points into your personal training.

Best of luck, no matter which way you choose.

Regards

Katana
 
Wayfaring,

5th Dan. WTF (World Taekwondo Federation.) And Samurai is right. Plenty easy to talk the talk. Real hard to stick with it for years and years and train.

While TKD is my base, I have studied and incorporated many techniques and tactics from other arts. JKD and Krav Maga most of all. I am orientated on what works on the street and belive if you are not about to collapse at the end of a workout, then you have not been working out!

And while I'm a very avid competitor in IDPA (and used to be in IPSC) I do most of my practice with street guns. And local matchs all I use is the very CCW equipment I carry.) To me shooting is a martial art.
 
Bushidokan

Bushidokan

The Bushidokan Art is a combination of Okinawan karate, judo, and jujitsu, with the primary emphasis on karate. The karate portion of Bushidokan's training is quite similar to Shorin-ryu - definitely Okinawan in ancestry. Each class begins with Taiso, which contains a very strong emphasis on leg stretches and abdominal conditioning. Bushidokan is best suited for those interested in effective street self-defense, tournament fighting, and fairly rugged physical conditioning.

http://www.atlantamartialarts.com/styles/bushidokan.htm
http://www.bushidokan.net/
http://www.usadojo.com/styles/about-bushidokan.htm

anything is better than nothing, but some styles are simply superior to others for self-defense.

Bushidokan/Okinawan karate/jujitsu/Shorin-ryu - something along those lines
 
I did TKD for q few years and I feel that it is pretty easy to implement as a defensive art. If you train hard and learn the techniques, most martial artists will be more effective than non-trained fighters (assuming equal physical ability). I do agree that some TKD schools should change the art to TMD... Take My Dough (and give me another belt)! My instructor was Korean and trained in South Korea. He was a 3rd degree black belt back then and is now a 5th degree black belt.

One thing I like about TKD is that it is very easy to implement early on. More complicated arts like Kung Fu or Aikido take a long time to become proficient to the point you can implement it. That said, a well trained Kung Fu fighter will most likely take out a equal TKD fighter (equal in years trained and physical ability). This is from personal experience. TKD has become so much so a sport that "the rules" get in the way. In a fight, the only rule is to win. TKD also "telegraphs" the strikes so that other martial artists can usually counter them.

A good friend of mine studied Krav Maga for a few years and that art is VERY NASTY. The strikes are very simple but BRUTAL! Is is no nonsense self defense rather than a sport. There are few wasted motions unlike many martial arts. If you can find a good Krav Maga school, that would be the best defensive art to study.

One last thing, ground techniques are important to know, but ground fighting is very dangerous since you may be facing more than one attacker. One on one, a TKD fighter would get his butt kicked on the ground but anyone with half decent ground skills.
 
One important point to remember is that a majority of sd situations happen quick and very often the perpertrator(s) depend on the element of surprise and count on striking first.
 
Thanks, Deaf Smith!

Tanzer, I see your point, but I have to disagree with you on one minor technicality:

Starbuck,
Myth or not, the idea is that rank should be ability based, and not a measure of attendance. Perfect attendance certificates will not help you ward off an attacker.
Click to expand...

No, the idea is not that rank should be ability based. The idea is that rank should not matter. When in the dojo, a proper student shows respect for a fellow student, whether five belt ranks higher or lower. No matter what rank, you listen to your instructor, and do your best to train in the way.

If, outside the dojo, you want to know "who's better," then the color of your belt is NOT the way to determine it. I've seen white belts put black belts on the FLOOR, and I've seen it go the other way around. The only way to settle "who's better" is to take it to the mat and find out. (Unless one of the people is ME, in which case I'll just readilly admit: "You're better.")

And, incidentally, in our school, it's not that hard to get a black belt. (Though, we have had people fail tests...) It takes several years, but the testing requirements can be attained, provided you always show up for class, pay attention, and put forth a moderate level of effort. BUT, in our school, we also DON'T teach that a black-belt rank makes you a "master-fighter".

In my home dojo, we say that true learning doesn't really begin UNTIL you get your black belt. Up until black belt, you're just learning the fundamentals of fighting, the "building blocks" upon which a good fighter is made. After you already know all the katas, all the moves, all the twists and turns, THEN the real training begins. THEN you learn how to truly USE those moves, not just how to PERFORM the moves.

I would say that one problem with the American martial arts community is this "stigma" that is placed on "black belts." Being a "black belt" in a martial art is really not a big deal. I wish people wouldn't put so much emphasis on it...
 
Samurai,
I think we really agree, it's just the wording. When it comes to the bottom line, I agree totally. That's what the forum is about, and I guess the originator of this thread got to see how complicated (and hopefully how important) the decision making process is. This thread is like a microchasm of the martial arts itself; Many styles & opinions but mostly respectfulness with a restraint on the machismo. It gave me time to remember when I was solid as a rock without an ounce of fat. Hopefully, I, as you did, complimented my instructor by not offending, not looking for trouble, but showing confidence.
 
The belt ranks in TKD go something like this:

1s to 3ed black you are just a black belt.
4th you become an 'expert'.
5th or above a 'master'.

The belts do NOT mean you are some bad ass. Depending on the instuctor you may have to know all the forms up to your rank, 50 one step sparring techniques, 50 hapkido, use of the bo, some Korean, spar well with multiple opponents, and some board and brick breaking for extra points. The 5th black is a sign of experience.

Usually if you teach your own school you can handle yourself. At least you have better as there WILL be people showing up to try you. Almost always they are not good themselves but think they are good. You will have to fight for your school a few times, I can say that by having done it myself.

I started in Tang So Do. Got my red belt in that before TKD. My instructor, John Chu, as a very strict teacher. Not only in technique, but in respect in the dojo (unfortunatly he died of tumors while he was only 35.)

Other instructors I trained under (in TKD) were all no where near as strict as he was. As a result, when I had my own school, as 4th black, I taught like Chu did (and I still do where I'm at now.) We DIE in PT. If you don't sweat, you haven't trained. If you don't put in 110 percent, you havn't trained. If you don't train hard, you are not training. And spending alot of time taking is not training.

Over the years I have found that you get what you put into just about anything you do in life. And that's especialy true with the martial arts and shooting (and thus is why so far I'm a 4 gun expert in IDPA.. trying for master using a Glock 19!)
 
I took a lot of martial art when I was little. I took TaeKwonDo in Korea, and I absolutely did not like it. It is not because of the TKD, but how they teach. I dont know now, but back then, they beat the **** out of student. IF you don't believe me, watch the movie Best of the Best. jk :D

Choking with numchuck, kicking, hitting by Sa-bum (master), or Gwan-Jang was regular routine. Training for tournment and going to Kook Ki Won, was hell. In Korean TKD Dojang (DOJO), they typically teach you DangSooDo and Hapkido (korean version of aikido) as well. Some places also teaches you something called Taekyun (sp?, i dont know how it spells or what US dojo writes).

Anyways, latest martial art I've took was Kendo at a Univ. Good part about kendo is it really really really pushes people. A lot of japanese tradition stuff and etc. Bad part is that people do goto hospital from excessive training. Typically it was Bleeding feet. Some from missed Tsuki (neck stab). I mean, you go really at the opponent. HOwever, i dont think kendo is practical for defensive martial art.


Back to the topic. I think I am one of the guy who really do not believe that martial art is really really effective in self defense. It helps, but it ain't a UFC or 1 on 1 tournment. BG has knives. THey got all sorts of weapons. Imagine, some ninja wannabe who has 6th degree in all martial art try to hit a bad guy. Martial artist is beating the s*** out of the BG to stop him, and bad guy suddenly stab the martial artist...... Or bad guy go bang bang.

I think best defense is know your surrounding, and avoid those ego tripping "you wanna fight?/what are you gonna do about it?" crap. Try to limit yourself to going to all those dangerous places. Learn how to call 911 and be a good withness. IF all those fail, I recommand Pepperspray or your CCW as a last option. IMHO I would not risk my life by using 6th degree (whatever degree u are) martial arts to stop a bad guy.
 
Krav Maga

What does anyone know about Krav Maga? All I know is that it's a hand-to-hand style practiced by Israele military, and that my local police department is adopting it now. There's a place not far from me that teaches it
 
I did a lot of judo in my teens and have been a police officer (mostly urban uniform patrol) for 27 years in a country where we don't carry guns as general issue. Much of the official training I have had works very well in the gym and poorly on the street. This is because we only train twice a year. When I joined it was once a year. There are a lot of good methods out there but the key, in whatever method you choose, is practice. Samurai has a point with his signature 'Why is it that we fire 1,000 rounds and know that we need more practice, but yet we punch a bag 10 times and think we know how to fight?' From the point of view of police work you effectively have two fights to win. The brawl on the street and the debate in the court room, and the latter may be complicated by the way almost every passerby who stops to gawp will have a mobile phone with video capability.

I am 47 and frankly starting to creak a little. My kids, 10 and 8, have been doing Shotokan Karate for 2 years and enjoy it so much I started 6 months ago. I just my failed my yellow belt grading and frankly look forward all week to my training sessions.

My instructors teach that the first tool is awareness and make a very clear divide between the classical work and what will work on the street.
Whatever method you choose, provided it is street wise and trains with confrontation will stand you in good stead if you practice. You probably won't be Bruce Lee, but you will be fitter and better prepared. But make sure you can justify what you did when you are questioned about it later.
 
Troy,

Krav Maga is a very strait forward hands and feet method of combat. Nothing fancy but the moves are quite good. I have several books on the subject, been to a class or two, and we actaully use some of the SD methods in our TKD class (I'm not above stealing whatever works, as long as it works!)

It's approch is one of street self defense. No Kata, no fancy moves, but they do expect you to be fit. Actually I like it and I would be happy to become a level 3 in it but I sure can't take a month vacation and fly to California just to make the grade (which is what you have to do now to teach it.)
 
I had a great time with Krav-maga until our school closed, it's a very effective to the point martial art(fighting system?) incorporating sparring as well as basic ground work(triangles, chokes, and armbars) as well as using any weapon available to you with real life training scenarios. I'm going to try some judo next. As has been said here try every one of them you can.:)
 
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